POULSBO – Longtime Poulsbo City Councilman Jim Henry died Sunday, city officials confirmed Tuesday, drawing to a close Henry’s lifetime of service throughout his country.

Henry, 80, died in Florida while visiting family over the Thanksgiving weekend, fellow city councilman Ed Stern said. Henry's life was marked by service, council members said.

“He took a delight in everything he did,” Stern said. “That’s his hallmark characteristic for me.”

Following a 31-year career in the U.S. Navy, Henry retired to Poulsbo in 1986, where he soon began a second career in city government. He first joined the city’s Planning Commission in 1991 and was later elected to a term on City Council beginning in 2000. Henry spent 15 years on the city’s legislative body, where he served as one of the few African-American elected officials in Kitsap County in recent years, Stern noted.

“He used to entertain us with anecdotes about growing up Chicago,” Stern said with a laugh. “Then he’d regale us by comparing the city of Poulsbo with the city of Chicago. We’d try to stop him, but there was no stifling Jim when he got on a roll.”

Stern said it was Henry’s innate curiosity that led him to help establish a close relationship between the city of Poulsbo and the Suquamish Tribe. After he was elected to office, he became fascinated with the tribe’s history and culture and wanted to know more, Henry had said, and over the years helped to bring the tribe and the city of Poulsbo closer together.

Suquamish Tribal Chairman Leonard Forsman said Henry identified with the tribe’s family values and saw ways to interact with the tribe that respected its sovereignty.

“He was interested in our history and culture,” Forsman said. “He found that he appreciated our willingness to and our ability to govern ourselves. He liked the fact that we are proactive in asserting ourselves.”

Henry didn’t run for reelection in November and planned to step down from his seat in at the end of 2017. The city had been looking into ways to keep Henry around in an emeritus role as a liaison to the tribe, Stern said.

John R. Bukowsky was the only candidate for Henry’s seat on the council, but he announced this fall that he is no longer able to serve due to "personal circumstances." The City Council will appoint someone to the position.